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The U.S. Conference of Mayors joined Coronado and San Diego in calling for increased federal funding to tackle Mexico river pollution that plagues San Diego County beaches and other communities along the southern U.S. border.

Coronado Mayor Richard Bailey co-wrote a resolution with San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and made presentations to win its adoption by the Mayors’ Water Council, Internal Affairs Committee, Environmental Committee and then today at a plenary session.

The Conference is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations over 30,000; resolutions passed by the group will be forwarded to President Trump and Congress. A copy of the resolution as adopted follows.

“Communities all along the border are dealing with cross-border pollution,” Bailey said. “We want to raise national awareness of the health and environmental problems it poses and generate backing for long-term solutions. I am grateful for the support of all the mayors and I want to especially thank San Diego’s Mayor Faulconer for co-sponsoring the resolution and Imperial Beach Mayor Serge Dedina for helping defend the resolution in the committee process.

“Our strategy here parallels the efforts of the County of San Diego and County Supervisor Greg Cox to pass a similar resolution through the National Association of Counties. As a regional coalition we are continuing to push for solutions from every angle. Winning the support of national organizations like the U.S. Conference of Mayors makes it more likely our federal representatives will take action on this issue.”

The resolution seeks funding for the U.S.-Mexico Border Water Infrastructure Program (BWIP), part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that funds the planning, design, and construction of high priority water and wastewater infrastructure projects along the U.S.- Mexico border.

Since 2018, the City of Coronado has lobbied federal lawmakers and agency leaders to fund sustainable solutions to the flow of sewage in the Tijuana River Valley, which has forced beach closures in San Diego County. The coalition-based approach has resulted in millions of dollars for treatment plant and collection system improvements in Mexico and the United States.

Last month, the EPA held a stakeholder meeting in Coronado at the City’s request to outline and prioritize projects that would benefit from $30 million in proposed federal funding for the 2020 fiscal year.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors, which represents 1,408 cities, held its 87th annual meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii, from June 28 to July 1.